This book seeks to make a contribution to the discipline of distance education by presenting international perspectives on the state of the field and examining and discussing specific current trends and issues faced by the distance learning community. To this end, 24 authors from five continents have contributed their viewpoints on a wide array of distance education themes, including conceptual perspectives, local case studies, interviews, and "nuts-and-bolts" considerations for the design and implementation of international distance education programs. The result is a wide-ranging text that offers insight into the multi-faceted world of international distance education.